Richard Curtis (1) (1956–)

I worried the cute premise would be delivered without invention, essentially beating a joke to its death. The script actually was clever in both the overall plot and in small details: the fact that not only The Beatles were forgotten, a simple example.

A more impressive example: the scene in which Jack plays "Let It Be" to his parents, "the first people in the world to hear it!" There's room for small jokes, including the running joke of listeners mis-remembering the line as "Leave It Be" or show more "Let Him Be". But also a very clever creation of what it must feel like for anyone creating something and ensuing frustration when the wonder and satisfaction of the resulting efforts aren't perceived or shared by others. The film assumes the viewer brings in personal appreciation of the song, a safe assumption since it's widely admired as a great pop song and likely that many if not most viewers are Beatles fans. It follows the viewer shares Jack's frustration when his audience doesn't immediately react to the genius of the song, something not immediately true if the song were original to the movie, no matter how good it might be. This scene contrasts with an earlier, in which Jack's first-time singing of another Beatles classic is immediately appreciated by his audience. The viewer effectively merges into Jack's viewpoint in a powerful way, for which films (and novels) are justly celebrated.

While the romance is predictable and indeed, a tired trope ("You've had ten years to make your move", says the Girl to the Boy), the casting and acting breathe life into the characters. show less

A wonderful film, with great acting, good chemistry, a clever script, and an unusual theme involving time travel alongside a feel-good romantic comedy. It manages to combine some humour, quite a bit of poignancy, and some lessons in living.

We were totally drawn into the story, and had no problem suspending belief (and ignoring the inevitable plot holes) while watching. Definitely recommended if you like this kind of thing.

There's a lot of implied nudity and intimacy, albeit without show more anything too overt, and quite a bit of 'strong' language, so I'd have rated it 15 rather than 12.

Longer review here: https://suesdvdreviews.blogspot.com/2023/02/about-time-domhnall-geeson.html show less

A bit confusing, but overall enjoyable film exploring different kinds of 'love'. There's an all-star cast, with several different storylines running alongside each other. From a new prime minister to stand-ins for explicit scenes in a film, from a respectable business manager illicitly attracted to his PA to a bereaved husband trying to get to know his orphaned ten-year-old stepson, a wide range of emotion is explored.

Some 'adult' scenes, some poignancy, and a fair amount of low-key humour, show more much of which I had forgotten in the eight years since we first saw it.

Recommended, although the US rating of R seems more appropriate than the UK rating of 15.

Longer review here: https://suesdvdreviews.blogspot.com/2020/12/love-actually.html show less

It's rude in places, entirely unsuitable for children, and pokes fun at the established church and its congregation. But Dawn French is wonderful as the harassed but essentially kind-hearted Geraldine, and her supporting cast provide a lot of humour in one-liners, and both predictable comments and unexpected scenes.

We'd seen it before, although not for many years, and enjoyed it very much seeing just one or two episodes per week over several months.